Rotary sand cut-off



April 12, 1966 v. FRANTZ ROTARY SAND CUT-OFF Filed Sept. 21, 1964 FIG..2

In v e n 'r o r-.

Virgil L. Frantz BY WMQM;

his Aflorney United States Patent 3,245,592 ROTARY SAND CUT-OFF VirgilL. Frantz, Salem, Va., assignor to Graham-White Sales Corporation,Salem, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No.397,802 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-517) This invention relates to sandingsystems of railway locomotives and like vehicles and has for its primaryobject the provision insuch a system of an improved sand cutoff forshutting off the how of sand from a source of supply to facilitateperiodic removal of a sand trap for inspection and, if necessary, repairor replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-off wherein agate and its seat are so arranged and Constructed as to inhibitinterference with operation by said particles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-off whereinthe gate is rotary and, over its range of movement between open andclosed positions, presses against and is wiped by a rubber seatsurrounding the inlet opening closable by the gate, thereby ensuringclosing of the opening without impairment.

' An additional object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-off inwhich the seat for the gate is entirely formed by a readily replaceablerubber ring.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-off which issimple and rugged in construction and trouble-free in operation over along service life.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafterin the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thesand cutoff of the present invention in an exemplary installation;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along lines 33of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIGURE1; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like referencecharacters designate like parts, the improved sand cut-off 1 of thepresent invention is designed for installation in a sanding line of alocomotive or like vehicle (not shown) between a sandbox or other usualsupply source (not shown) and a sand trap or sander 2. While the sander2 may be of any suitable type, the illustrated sander is generallysimilar to that shown in Frantz application, Serial No. 224,010, filedon September 17, 1962, now US. Patent No. 3,207,540, except for a novelconnection 3 to the discharge pipe 4, which was invented by Virgil L.Frantz and will be the subject of a separate patent application.

Conveniently mounted on,and bolted or otherwise releasably secured to amounting flange 5 on the sand trap 2 about the latters inlet end 6, thesand cut-off 1 at its inlet end 7, preferably is similarly secured toapipe flange 8 into which is screwed or fitted the adjoining end of afeed pipe 9 extending upwardly from the cut-off to the sand box.

The illustrated sand cut-off 1 has a generally box-shaped hollow body10, containing a cavity or chamber 11 opening upwardly at the topthrough an aperture 12 and downwardly at the bottom through an outlet oroutlet opening 13, both preferably centered laterally on the body andthe pipe flange 8 thereabove and of smaller crosssectional area than thecavity.

Patented Apr. 12, 1%66 "ice The preferred top aperture or opening 12 iscircular in cross-section and enlarged or laterally or radially outsetover its upper portion to provide an upwardly facing annular socket,groove or seat 14, cylindrical at the side and bevelled or downwardlytapered at the bottom, for socketing, receiving or seating thecorrespondingly configured rim, lip or outer portion 15 of a rubber orlike resilient seat, ring or washer 16. Extending through the aperture12 and releasably or removably clamped in the socket 14 therein byengagement by the underside 17 of the pipe flange 8, the rubber seat 16has a vertically directed cylindrical bore 18 approximating the insidediameter of the feed pipe 9 and serving as the inlet port or openingthrough which sand normally flows by gravity into the cavity 11 andtherefrom, through the outlet opening 13 to the sand trap 2.

For closing the inlet opening 18 and shutting or cutting off flow ofsand by gravity therethrough from the sand box to the sand trap 2, thereis rotatably, swingably or pivotally mounted in the body cavity 11 belowthe rubber seat 16 a rotary gate, slide or blade 19 having a circularlyand, preferably. cylindrically convex upper or outer surface 20confronting and engaging a correspondingly concave un-densurface 21 ofthe ring. Substantially centered laterally on the inlet opening 18, theupper surface 20 of the gate 19 is such area as, in the gates closedposition, to contact the undersurface 21 of the seat 16 about and closethe opening.

The rotative axis of the gate 19 preferably intersects and issubstantially normal or radial to the axis of the inlet opening 18 andthe engaging surfaces 20 and 21 of the gate and seat, respectively, aresubstantially concentric or oo-radial, depending on their form. However,the radius of the gate surface preferably is slightly or somewhatgreater than that of the seat surface, so that the gate will exert anupward, radial force on and press against and partly compress the ringover the areas in which the surfaces are in contact.

The progressive compression of the resilient or yieldable seat 16 by thegate 19, as the gate rotates or swings from a normal, open or retractedposition in an end of the cavity 11, clear or out-of-the-way of theinlet opening 18, to closed position in which it engages the seatentirely around or about the opening, has the distinct advantage ofenabling the seat to exert a wiping action on the gate and so preventany sand particles on the gate from being carried by it to the underside21 of the ring. For both maximum benefit from the wiping action andsmooth operation, the gate 19 should maintain contact with the seat 16even in open position and contact in that position over a substantialarea, without intrusion of the gate upon the opening 18, is obtained byproviding in the leading edge 22 of the gate 19 a central recess 23conforming in curvature to the opening. If, as preferred, the engagingsurfaces 20 and 21 are cylindrical rather than spherical, the seat 16convenient-1y is provided on its rim 15 with a locating tab 24 fittingin a notch 25 opening off the socket 14 in the upper portion of theaperture 12 for circumferentially positioning the seat relative to thebody.

The use of a yieldable or resilient, readily replaceable ring 16 as theseat and only contact for the gate 19, together with the upward radialforce exerted by the gate on the ring, ensures that, in the gates closedposimake the gate and its radial arms 26 at its sides as a one-piece orunitary stamping.

Straddling or embracing and offset outwardly from the inlet opening 18,so as not to interfere with the normal gravity flow of sand to the sandtrap 2 when the gate 19 is open, the arms 26 conveniently are mounted onpins, stub axles or shafts 2.7 seating in and extending horizontallythrough boss-reinforced openings 28 in the opposite sides of the body 10and insertable from within into those openings through square orotherwise outof-round apertures or openings 29 in the arms. Having acylindrical journal 30 for rotation in the associated opening 28, eachof the pins, inside its journal and within the cavity 11, has a squareor otherwise out-of-round neck 31 of the configuration f the aperture 29in the adjoining arm 26, so as to lock it and the arm against relativerotation. Each pin 27 has at its inner end a head 32 of largercross-section than the arm opening 29 to prevent it from passingtherethrough.

Once the gate 19 has been centered on the inlet opening 18, the pins 27are held against axial shifting to the body by springs or spring washers33 applied over their outer ends and acting inwardly against the sides34 of the body. The spring washers 33 act outwardly against roll pins 35which are inserted radially through the outer end portions of thejournals 30 and serve not only as handles for operating the gate 1? fromeither side but, in cooperation with arcuate or other suitable stops orabutinents 36 on the sides 34 of the body It beyond the spring Washers33, to fix or determine the gates open and closed positions. If desired,the pins 27 may be fixed against axial movement relative to the arms 26,as by having their heads 32 tack-welded thereto. It also is desirablethat the journals 30 should carry within the openings 28 0-rings or likesuitable gaskets 37 to seal the openings against entry of moisture andprevent caking of the sand standing in the cavity 11 when the sand trap2 is not being operated. To permit the gate 19 and the headed pins 27 tobe inserted therethrough in assembling the cut-off, the outlet opening13 is larger in cross-sectional area than the inlet opening 18 and of asize and shape to pass the gate.

From the above detailed description it will be apparent that there hasbeen provided an improved sand cut-off, which, by using a rotary ratherthan a reciprocable closure member and depending on metal-to-rubberrather than metal-to-metal contact between the closure member and itsseat for shutting oft flow of sand to a sand trap, 0perates effectivelyand without interference by the sand. It should be understood that thedescribed and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the inventionand that all modifications are intended to be included that do notdepart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A sand cut-off for shutting off gravity flow of sand from a feed pipeto a sand trap, comprising a body, a rubber seat removably inserted inan aperture in said body about a sand inlet opening therein, a gate insaid body and rotatable across said seat for opening and closing saidinlet opening, a cylindrically concave surface on said seat, and acylindrically convex surface on said gate spaced radially from said bodyand having surface engagement with said seat surface, said seat onrotation of said gate exerting a wiping action on said gate surface forpreventing sand particles from being carried between said surfaces.

2. A sand cut-off for shutting off gravity flow of sand from a feed pipeto a sand trap, comprising a body, a rubber seat inserted in an aperturein an upper end of said body about a sand inlet opening therein,releasable means for clamping said seat in said aperture, a gate mountedin a cavity in said body below said seat and rotatable thereagainst foropening and closing said inlet opening, a cylindrically concave surfaceon said seat, and a cylindrically convex surface on said gate radiallyspaced from said body and having surface engagement with said seatsurface, said seat on rotation of said gate exerting a wiping action onsaid gate surface for preventing sand particles from being carriedbetween said surfaces.

3.. A sand cut-01f for shutting off gravity flow of sand from a feedpipe to a sand trap, comprising a body having an aperture in a upper endthereof, a rubber seat releasably clamped in said aperture, a gate in acavity in said body between said aperture and an outlet and rotatableagainst said seat for opening and closing an inlet opening therein,shaft means extending through opposite sides of said body and rotatablymounting said gate, and springs acting between said sides and outer endsof said shaft means for centering said gate on said seat.

4. A sand cut-off for shutting off gravity fiow of sand from a feed pipeto a sand trap, comprising a body having an aperture in an upper endthereof, a rubber seat releasably clamped in said aperture, a gaterotatably mounted in a cavity in said body between said aperture and anoutlet, a cylindrically concave undersurface on said seat about an inletopening therein, a cylindrically convex surface. on said gatesubstantially concentric with and engaging said undersurface androtatable thereagainst for opening and closing said inlet opening, stubshafts fixed to said gate beyond opposite sides of said surface thereonand extending through correspondingly opposite sides of said body forrotatably mounting said gate therein, and spring means acting betweensaid sides and outer ends of said shafts for centering said gate on saidseat. I

5. A sand cut-oft for shutting off gravity flow of sand from a feed pipeto a sand trap, comprising a body having an aperture in an upper endthereof, a rubber seat releasably clamped in said aperture, a gaterotatably mounted in a cavity in said body between said aperture and anoutlet, a cylindrically concave undersurface on said seat about an inletopening therein, a circularly convex surface on said gate substantiallyconcentric with and pressing and rotatable against said undersurface foropening and closing said inlet opening, downstanding legs on said gateat opposite sides of said surface thereon, a stub shaft fixed to eachleg and extending through an adjoining side of said body, and springsacting between each side and an outer end of the related shaft forcentering said gate on said seat.

6. A sand cut-off for shutting off gravity flow of sand from a feed pipeto a sand trap, comprising a body having an aperture in an upper endthereof, a rubber seat releasably clamped in said aperture, a gaterotatably mounted in a cavity in said body between said aperture and anoutlet, a cylindrically concave undersurface on said seat about an inletopening therein, a cylindrically convex surface on said gatesubstantially coaxial with and pressing and rotatable against saidundersurface for opening and closing said inlet opening, stub shaftsfixed to said gate beyond opposite sides of said surface thereon andextending through corresponding sides of said body, handles on saidshafts beyond said sides, spring means acting between each handle andthe adjoining side for centering said gate on said seat, and means onone of said sides and cooperating with the adjoining handle for limitingthe rotation of said gate.

7. A sand cut-off for shutting off gravity flow of sand from a feed pipeto a sand trap, comprising a body, a flange releasably connecting anupper end of said body to said pipe, said body having a cavity thereinopening upwardly through an aperture onto said pipe and downwardlythrough an outlet onto said sand trap, a rubber seat inserted in saidaperture and having a vertically directed inlet opening therethrough, arim on said seat releasably clamped in an upwardly opening socket insaid aperture by said flange, locating tab and notch means on said seatand body for positioning said seat circumferentially relative to saidbody, a gate having integral arms at opposite sides thereof andinsertabie into said cavity through said outlet, headed pins eachnon-rotatably received in one of said arms and projecting horizontallytherethrough and an adjoining side of said body for rotatably mountingsaid gate, sealing means about each pin for sealing against entry ofmoisture therebetween and said body, a handle on each pin outwardly ofsaid body for rotating said gate between open and closed positions,spring means on each pin between and acting against its handle and saidbody for positioning said gate laterally relative to said body, stopmeans on said body and c0- operating with said handles for determiningthe open and closed positions of said gate, a cylindrically concaveundersurface on said seat about said bore, and a cylindrically convexsurface on said gate and substantially surface over the range ofrotation of said gate for opening and closing said inlet opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,883,147 4/1959Mirza et a1 251-301 3,090,593 5/1963 Pro 251301 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,7906/ 1949 Italy. 259,641 7/1949 Switzerland.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

coaxial with and pressing upwardly against said under- 15 S. H.TOLLBERG, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SAND CUT-OFF FOR SHUTTING OFF GRAVITY FLOW OF SAND FROM A FEED PIPETO A SAND TRAP, COMPRISING A BODY, A RUBBER SEAT REMOVABLY INSERTED INAN APERTURE IN SAID BODY ABOUT A SAND INLET OPENING THEREIN, A GATE INSAID BODY AND ROTATABLE ACROSS SAID SEAT FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAIDINLET OPENING, A CYLINDRICAL CONCAVE SURFACE ON SAID SEAT, AND ACYLINDRICALLY CONVEX SURFACE ON SAID GATE SPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID BODYAND HAVING SUR-